Firing-gear of breech-loading ordnance.



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1,087,219.. r Patented Feb. 17,1914.

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A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUGKHAM.

FIRING GEAR 0F BREBOH LOADING ORDNANOB.

APPLIGATION FILED 0012,1905.

' Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GROSS REFEBENGE from A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUOKHAM. FIRING GEAR UP BREBCH LOADINGVORDNANGE.

APPLIOATION rum) 0012.2, 1909.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

OROQS REFERENGE from Patented Feb. 17, 1914,

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A. T. DAWSGN & G. T. BUGKHAM. FIRING GEAR 0P BREEOH LOADING ORDNANOE. APPLICATION FILED 00T.2, 1909.

Witnesses. 8? (i f ger is so arranged with respect to the hand CROSS REFERENCE from,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, OF WESTMINSTER,

LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS,' BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO VICKERS, LIM- ITED, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

FIRING-GEAR OF BREEGH-LOADING ORDNANGE.

Patented Feb. 17,1914.

To all whom it may camera:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR Tnuvon DAWSON and GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM, subjects of the King of Great Britain, both residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to the Firing-Gear of Breech- Loading Ordnance, of which the following i a specification.

This invention relates to firing gear of the kind in which there is employed a combined electric and percussion lock adapted for use with quick firing guns. In such locks the electric needle (surrounded by a sheath of insulating material) lies in contact with the primer and the gun can be fired electrically while a spring cont-rolled hammer is adapted to be released to. strike the electric needle when the gun is to be fired mechanically, the percussive action and the electric action being quite independent of each other.

The chief object of the invention is to so construct and arrange a combined electric and percussion lock that the firing will be effected by an electric action and a percussive action, these actions occurring in such rapid succession as to be practically simultaneous, and thus reducing the liability of a misfire.

According to our invention the lock comprises an insulated electric needle surrounded by a sheath controlled by an independent spring, which for sake of distinction may be termed the electric spring, the said needle being secured to the sheath by an insulated nut or bush in the usual manner. Surrounding the said sheath is a striker which in its forward movement is adapted to act upon a shoulder on the sheath. This striker is also controlled by an independent spring which may be termed the percussion spring. The parts are so arranged that the needle with its sheath and the surrounding striker are retracted together during the cocking operation. At the endof the cocking operation the said striker is held in its retracted position by asuitable retaining piece or trigger but the needle and its sheath are permitted to gently advance under the action of the electric spring in order to bring the point or nose of the needle into contact with the primer. The said retaining piece-or'trigsively in the event of. the electric firing having failed.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2

a plan of breech mechanism provided with our lmproved firing gear. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the center of the electric and percussion lock. Figs. 4 and 5 are plans of the firing gear detached from the breech mechanism and shown in the pos1tion the parts assume when the needle is partly retracted and when it is fully retracted. Figs. (Sand 7 are longitudinal sections of the electric and percussion lock, the

former figure showing the parts in the cocked position and the latter figure showing the parts in the fired position. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9' is a sectional elevation of the trigger mechanism, and Fig? 10 is a sectional plan of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures. A is a breech end of the gun; B the swinging carrier; C the breech'screw; D the breech actuating hand lever.

E is the crank pinion by means of which the breechscrew is angularly displaced in its locking and unlocking movements through the intervention'o'f the usualslotted arm 0 on the breech screw, the said crank pinion receiving its motion from a pinion Don the axle D of the hand lever D. 1

F is the retaining case of the improved electric and percussion lock and G is the cocking and safety slide that receives its motion from the crank pinion E and operates on the-striker an firing needle as hereinafter described." Contained centrally within the re-! tai ng case F is the needle F which is sur-' theinsulating bush F this lati ter in turn being protected by a steel sheath F and the controlling or electric spring F the said needle having the usual insulated nut or head F and the nut F by which it is secured to its sheath. The sheath is secured to the sleeve F 8 by means of a shoulder on the sheath and the nut F The nuts F and F are insulated by leather washers. F is the striker which is hollow and surrounds the said sheath; it is adapted to act upon the shoulder F of the sheath under the influence of the controlling or percussion spring F The said retaining case F is mounted in. the swinging carrier B, and retained in place therein in the usual manner by the interrupted fillets or segments f. The cooking and safety slide Gr worksin guides f formed at the rear or outer end of the retaining case F, the said slide being formed with inclines 9 that engages with friction rollers f carried: by the sleeve F mounted on the outer end of the needle sheath F operating the slide when the mechanism is actuated in. opening and closing the breech. In the example shown the said bolt engages with a hole in. one end of a link G whose other end is hinged at e to. the crank pinion E, The end of the link with which the said bolt engages, slides in atransverse groove 1). in the carrier B. On the left side ofthe guide bolt hole is a short rearward projection 9' over which the guide bolt cannot pass, thus preventing it from being inserted behind the boss of the link; an extension 9" toward the right. also serves a similar purpose when withdrawing the slide by hand when the breech. mechanism is inthe closed position. The projection 9 also renders it lmpossible to return the slide to the firing position while the breech mechanism is in the open position. The hinged, connection of the said link G with the crank pinion lies in a position to give rapid withdrawal Of the cooking and safety slide during the idlemovement of the crank-pinion in relation to the breech screw, thus. insuring the withdrawal of the needle before any unlocking action takes. place on the breech screw. I

H is. the retaining piece or trigger which in the example shown is of bell crank form and pivotedat h (Fig. 8) inthe percussion spring case F one arm engaglng with a.

notch-1 f" in the striker under the influence of a spring plunger f (Fig. 8) and the other arm engaging with the firing lever I (Fig. 2). whichis pivotally arranged .in. the carrier and adapted to be operated by a suit able trippingcam which is under the control of a releasing lever H in a similar manner to that set forth in the specification. of our applications for Patent, Serial Nos. 484,746 and 484,747. The mechanism for actuating the releasing lever H may be of the kind illustrated by Figs. 9 and 10 in which K is a pistol grip forming the rear portion of a hollow casing K which contains the electric contacts is k and which is carried by a bracket K attached to the gun cradle. The forward portion of the casing is connected with a neck K on the said bracket by means of a hinged jaw or clamp 1' provided with a suitable clamping screw K. The said casing K is prevented from moving around the bracket by a key K engaging with the neck of the bracket, endwise movement of the said casing on the neck being prevented by a segmental key K onv the hinged jaw or clamp. The trigger K is contained in the pistol grip K and is provided with an insulated button 74 through which the contact lever k is depressed for closing the electric contacts to fire the gun. The trigger is also provided sembled parts of the lock are held. in place 9 in the retaining case F, by the cocking and safety slide G which is situated between the percussion spring case F and the sleeve F The movement of the slide G may be limited by a screw g. (Figs. 4 and 5) carried by the retaining case and engaging with, a groove g in the slide.

WVhen the breech is being opened after firing, the first movement of the breech actuating hand-lever, prior to 'angularly displacing the breech screw to unlock it, draws the aforesaid link G and with it'the safety slide G, across the face of the carrier. This movement brings the inclines g on the-slide immediately into contact with the rollers f .on the sleeve F 8 and withdraws the electric needle F and sheath F together with the percussion striker F away from; the primer lnto the safety position. (Fig. 4). Further movement of the hand lever completely cooks the striker while unlocking the breech screw. When. the percussion striker F and electric needle F are fully cooked, the aforesaid trigger H engages with the notch f* in the striker, and retains it cocked until the said trigger is released by the firing lever I asabove described. When the breech is closed and angular displacement is being imparted to the breech screw for locking it, the sleeve F together with the electricneedle F and its sheath F moves forward under, the influence of the electric spring F .until (after the breech screw is completely locked), the said needle rests on the primer (Fig. 6), the percussion striker F meanwhile bein still retained cocked by the trigger H. This forward movement of the electric needle takes place in a gentle manner owing to the action of the inclines g of the slide on the rollers f of the sleeve F The lock is then in condition for effecting the electric and percussion firing. l/Vhen the hand-actuated trigger K is operated, the electric circuit through the electric needle F is instantly completed, and immediately afterward the percussion striker F is released by the said bell crank trigger-H which is tripped by the said firing lever'I acting under the influence of the tripping cam. On its release the said striker, by impinging on the shoulder F of the sheath, causes the needle to strike the primer, thereby firing percussively in the event of the electric firing having failed.

In order to detach the lock it is only necessary, when the breech mechanism is open, to Withdraw the guide bolt G from engagement with its link G and turn the complete lock through a quarter revolution, the bolt passing through a suitable dismantling groove in the carrier. The fillets or seg ments f on the retaining case will then be released from those on the carrier and the entire lock can be withdrawn. To detach the look when the breech mechanism is closed, the striker must be first cocked by hand, the guide bolt G then withdrawn, and the safety slide operated as already de scribed.

The improved electric and percussion lock possesses the advantages that it is simple in construction, its parts can be assembled with facility, and its safety is assured by reason of the fact that the needle point is about one fifth of an inch from the primer before the breech screw is moved. A further advantage is that in assembling the parts, when the breech is closed, the needle point cannot reach the primer until the safety slide is in its firing position, and that the safety slide, being indispensable to the working of the lock cannot be left out of place in assembling.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of an insulated electric needle, a spring controlling the same, a percussion striker, a single manually actuated device, means operated by said device for closing an electric circuit through the needle, means also operated by said device for causing the striker to fire the gun percussively immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle, and a sliding member for retracting said needle and striker and for permitting a gentle advance of the needle into contact with the primer.

2. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of .an insulated electric needle, a

spring controlling the same, a percussion striker, a spring controlling said striker, a single manually actuated device, means operated by said device for closing an electric circuit through the needle, means also operated by said device for releasing the striker immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle, and a sliding member for retracting said needle and striker and for permitting a gentle advance of the needle into contact with the primer.

3. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of an insulated electric needle, a spring controlling the same, a shoulder 011 said needle, a percussion striker surrounding said electric needle, a spring controlling the striker to cause it to impinge on the shoulder. of the electric needle, a single manually actuated device, means operated by said device for closing an electric circuit through the needle, means also operated by said device for releasing the striker immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle, and a sliding member for retracting said needle and striker and for permitting a gentle advance of the needle into contact with the primer.

4:. In firing gear for ordnance, the combi nation of a spring controlled electric needle, a spring controlled percussion striker, a sliding member for retracting said needle and striker and for permitting a gentle advance of the needle into contact with the primer, means for holding the striker retracted, a single manually actuated device, means operated by said device for closing an electric circuit through the needle, and means also operated by said device for releasing the striker immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle.

5. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of a spring controlled electric needle, a spring controlled percussion striker, a cocking and safety slide for retracting said needle and striker and for permitting a gentle advance of the needle into contact with the primer, means for holding the striker retracted, a single manually actuated device, means operated by said device for closing an electric circuit through the needle, and means also operated by said device for releasing the striker immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle.

6. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of a spring controlled electric needle, a spring controlled percussion striker, a cooking and safety slide, inclines thereon for retracting said needle and striker and permitting a gentle advance of said needle into contact with the primer, means for holding the striker in the retracted position, a single manually actuated device, means operated by said device for closing an elec- 4s mate-1a tric circuit through the needle, and means also operated by said device for releasing the striker immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle.

7. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of a spring controlled electric needle, a spring controlled percussion striker, a sheath surrounding said electric needle, a sleeve mounted on said sheath, friction rollers carried by said sleeve, a cooking and safety slide, inclines thereon engaging with said rollers for retracting the electric needle and striker and permitting a gentle advance of the said needle into. contact with the primer, means for holding the striker in the retracted position, a single manuallyactuated device, means operated by said device for closing an electric. circuit through the needle, and means also operated by said, device for releasing the striker immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle.

8. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of spring control-led, electric needle, a spring controlled ercussion Striker, a cocking and safety slide for retractingthe said needle and, striker and for permitting a gentle advance of the needle intocontact ith. the primer, a lever for retaining the said; striker in the retracted; position, a single manually actuated device, means oper- ,tu-res 1n presence of tWo Witnesses.

ated by said device for closing an electric circuit through the needle, and: means also operated by said, device for releasing the striker immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle.

9.. In firing gear for ordnance, the combito hol the striker in the retracted position, a single manually actuated device, means operated by said device for closing an electric circuit through the needle, and means also operated by said device for releasing the pivoted lever immediately after the closing of the electric circuit through the needle.

10.. In firing gear for ordnance, the combination of aspring controlled electric needle, a spring controlled percussion striker, a cocking and safety slide for retracting the 1 said needle and striker and for permitting a .gentle advance of the needle into contact With the primer, a slot formed in said striker, a. pivoted lever engaging in saidslot to hold the striker in the retracted position, a single manually actuated trigger, means operated by said trigger for closing an electric circuit thro ugh the needle, and means also operated by said trig- }ger for releasing the pivoted lever from the; i, striker immediately after the closing of .the electric circuit; through the needle.

In testimony whereof. We afiix our signa- ARTHU-R TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUOKIMM. Witnesses:

HENRY KING, ALFRED. Prints.v

come: 01* thi gpatent may. bcattained for fl-ve cents each, byaddressingthe Commissioner of intents. 

